‘Run’: A New Battle-of-the-Bands Entry

And the bands played on . . . .

When television hits on a novel idea, it usually drives that notion into the ground before advancing to its next relatively novel idea. Hence, ABC’s “Making the Band” indirectly begat the WB’s “Popstars,” which now leads to VH1’s “Bands on the Run,” potentially the most entertaining of the three.

Entertaining, that is, if you’re into bleeped dialogue, twentysomethings getting really wasted and an occasional bullhorn.

In all fairness, this new one-hour series, a music-oriented cross between “Real World” and “Road Rules,” is a clever and occasionally amusing variation on its prime-time predecessors that easily could attract a cult following, but do we really need another weekly show about the frenzied lives of unknown musicians, who in this case are brash, sometimes boorish and yet ambitious singers, drummers and guitarists?

OK, usually ambitious.

The premise: Four bands you’ve never heard of embark on a 13-week road trip in a bid to win $50,000, new equipment, a music video and a showcase attended by recording executives. (Sunday’s 90-minute pilot tracks three bands from Venice Beach to San Francisco, where they set out to accrue the most money in ticket sales and merchandising.) The bands introduced this weekend bear the hip, happenin’ names Soulcracker, Flickerstick and Harlow A.D., with the last consisting of four “vampire-looking chicks” who have the least experience on the road.

Given three days to build a buzz for a one-night performance, these game competitors approach their tough task in various ways, the key being lots of legwork. As in other unscripted programs, we get archetypes (i.e., the self-absorbed party animal or unfulfilled artist committed to his music) in lieu of three-dimensional individuals. Except for the group that throws in the towel early on, these music-makers feel pressure to make their respective marks, which tends to ring true because the show certainly offers the best shot at stardom they will ever have. Meanwhile, producers make the obligatory stabs at pathos, which is par for the course in this genre.

In part because of that pressure, the groups blow off steam with hard drinking (“I don’t remember too much”), tongue twisting (guess what that means) and juvenile high jinks.

Since the series is being shown on basic cable (as opposed to anything-goes pay services HBO or Showtime), we end up with hints of sex, no drugs and fleeting glimpses of rock ‘n’ roll.

May the best band win.

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“Bands on the Run” can be seen Sunday at 10 p.m. on VH1. The network has rated it TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children).

f15: linan (harlow a.d.)